Eagles Upset Bid Comes Up Short

(Posted January 28, 2006)

Kristen Kirk led Juniata with 17 points in its conference contest at Moravian.

Moravian 67, Juniata 55

HUNTINGDON, Pa. ? The Juniata College women?s basketball could not overcome a hot-shooting first half for the home team as the Eagles? upset bid fell short with a 67-55 set-back at Moravian College Saturday afternoon at Johnston Hall.

The Eagles outscored the home team 33-32 in the second half, but the Greyhounds shot 71 percent from the field in the first stanza to drop Juniata to 9-10 on the year and 2-6 in Commonwealth Conference action. The Greyhounds improved to 15-3 on the year and 6-2 in conference.

Juniata found itself down 13 at the half after Moravian?s hot start and got early baskets from Katie O?Brien (South Western/Hanover) and Jess Winemiller (Dallastown/York) to pull within 12, the Eagles could never get the lead into single digits.

Five points from Winemiller and another O?Brien hoop midway through the half again brought the lead to 13, but the visitors would get no closer until they pulled within 11 with under a minute remaining.

Juniata held a lead early in the contest, running out to a 12-6 advantage in the first five minutes. Moravian inched back in front, but Juniata hung close, pulling within two on a jumper from Kelly Ashcraft (State College/Bellefonte) with 9:37 left in the half. But the Greyhounds then closed the half on a 14-3 run which included a six minute stretch in which the Eagles did not score.

Kristen Kirk (Newport/Newport) finished with a team-high17 points for the Eagles, while Winemiller was also in double figures with 13. O?Brien pulled down a team-best seven boards, while Mindy Werner (West York/York) led all players with five assists.

Jenny Hackleman matched Kirk as the game?s high scorer with 17 points. Kelly Applegate contributed 15 points, while Stephanie Seaman was one rebound shy of a double-double with her 12 points and nine boards. Hackleman and Sara Steinman both finished with four assists for the Greyhounds.

The Eagles will be back in action on Tuesday night when they play at conference foe Messiah.